Stabilization Shooting Platform

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a shooting stabilization support apparatus with a saddle adapted to receive and support a variety of firearms. The saddle is supported by a hinge block or support mount and connected to a swivel mount allowing the saddle to freely and completely rotate in the horizontal and vertical plane space. The vertical or pitch elevation of the firearm resting in the shooting platform is easily adjusted and secured into position with a brake or a brake handle-brake clamp assembly that enables the user to easily adjust the elevation or pitch angle of the firearm muzzle and secure the rifle in the desired position. The shooter may then discharge the weapon with improved accuracy on target. The shooting platform apparatus may be permanently or detachably affixed to any fixed surface such as the floor, ceiling or wall of any enclosed space or it may be integrated or attached to vehicles, boats, aircraft or other transport equipment.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. provisional application, Ser. No. 61/767,953, filed on Feb. 22, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The stability with which a firearm is positioned is a critical factor contributing to the accuracy of a projectile discharged from the weapon. Likewise the ability to quickly bring a weapon to bear and position it accurately on the intended target is critical in shooting sports and public safety scenarios. Various prior apparatus and methods are known in the art that attempt to, but have not, solved such targeting and accuracy issues faced by shooters in hunting and military environments.

For example, certain shooting systems have been developed for mechanically unsupported stabilization of the firearm that employs a sling device. A sling may be used as a shooting aid to pull the firearm into the user's shoulder area to provide stability against the shooter's body. However, the limitations with such body support systems do not adequately compensate for firearm recoil and its affect on the stability of the shooter's body. Likewise, the recoil associated with discharging a firearm may also cause the user to flinch or jerk in anticipation of the associated recoil. Flinching or jerking may affect the trigger pull and thereby further increase the inaccuracy associated with the shot. Other shooting support systems are designed to reduce or eliminate the recoil force transmitted to the user. However, such stabilization support systems are typically heavy, so as to absorb greater amounts of recoil from the weapon when discharged, and thus are not easily transportable or carried by the shooter into myriad environments where space and room to erect and utilize such support systems is limited.

Despite advances in firearm manufacturing and optics capability, a need still exists in the art for a shooting platform which provides a stable platform on which the firearm may be rested and secured which prevents gross or reflexive movements by the shooter from affecting the desired shot placement and targeting accuracy. A need exists for a simple and easily transportable shooting platform that may be carried on the user's person, erected and utilized in a variety of shooting environments. Further, a need exists for a stabilized shooting platform that allows the user to easily rest, support and position the firearm on target, while providing the capability to easily adjust the elevation of the firearm and lock the firearm in the desired position for placing a projectile discharged from the firearm on the desired target. There is a need in the art for a shooting platform that supports the firearm without the aid of the shooter, while remaining light and easily transportable from one location to another by the shooter.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect, the present invention provides a shooting stabilization support apparatus (also referred to as a “shooting platform”) comprising a saddle with a forward and rear firearm supports adapted to receive and support a variety of firearms. The saddle is supported by a hinge block connected to a swivel mount allowing the saddle to freely and completely rotate in the horizontal and vertical plane space thereby aiding the shooter in easily and quickly placing the firearm on target desired by the shooter. The vertical elevation of the firearm is easily adjusted and secured into position using a brake that enables the user to easily adjust the elevation of the firearm muzzle and secure the rifle in the desired position. The shooter may then discharge the weapon with improved accuracy on target. The shooting platform apparatus may be permanently or detachably affixed to any fixed surface such as the floor, ceiling or wall of any enclosed space as further described herein. The shooting platform may be integrated or attached to vehicles, boats, aircraft or other transport equipment.

In this respect, before explaining the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction or to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting. To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of this application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view depicting an exemplary embodiment of the stabilization shooting platform apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the stabilization shooting platform apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of the brake positioned between the hinge block and rear control arm of the stabilization shooting platform apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4A is a side elevation sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of the brake positioned between the hinge block and rear control arm of the stabilization shooting platform apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4B is a bottom elevation sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of the brake positioned between the hinge block and rear control arm of the stabilization shooting platform apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the stabilization shooting platform with swiveling extension arms in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the stabilization shooting platform apparatus in accordance with the present invention; and,

FIG. 6B is a bottom perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the stabilization shooting platform apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to be taken as a limitation on the present invention. Relative language used herein is best understood with reference to the drawings, in which like numerals are used to identify like or similar items. Further, in the drawings, certain features may be shown in somewhat schematic form.

Turning to FIG. 1, an embodiment of the shooting platform 10 is depicted in greater detail. Shooting platform 10 includes saddle 12 which is formed by two support legs 12 a, 12 b and with support legs 12 a, 12 b terminating into rear support base 12 c and front support base 12 d as shown. Saddle 12 is attached to hinge block 18 by pin or other attachment means known in the art that allow saddle 12 to rotate or pitch in the vertical direction. Saddle 12 includes a U or V-shaped rear gun support 14 attached to rear support base 12 c and U or V-shaped front gun support 16 attached to front support base 12 d. In one embodiment, front gun support 16 includes an adjustment control 24 allowing the user to increase or decrease the width of front gun support 16 for accommodating firearm fore-ends or barrels of various shapes, widths and diameters. Brake 20 is positioned between and hingedly connected to hinge block 18 and rear control arm 22 as shown. Rear control arm 22 is hingedly connected to saddle 12 via rear support base 12 c. Brake 20 provides both an adjustable tensile locking mechanism for target alignment in the vertical direction. The user actuates brake 20 by hand, acquires and sights the target through the rifle sites or scope, and then actuates brake 20 so as to substantially lock the position of the firearm on the target at the desired elevational pitch. The components and operation of shooting platform 10 will be shown and described in greater detail below.

With regard to FIG. 2, a side elevational view of shooting platform 10 is shown. Front gun support 16 is shown fixed to saddle 12 and includes threaded hole 28 in which threaded adjustment control 24 (shown in FIG. 1) is rotated to increase or decrease the width of front gun support 16 as previously described. Pins 26 are utilized to hingedly connect saddle 12 to hinge block 18 and rear control arm 22 allowing saddle 12 via rear support base 12 c, hinge block 18 and rear control arm 22 to substantially rotate relative to each other. Brake 20 is connected to hinge block 18 and rear control arm 22 with pins 26 as further described herein.

Pins 26 are utilized to hingedly attach brake 20 between hinge block 18 and rear control arm 22 allowing brake 20, hinge block 18, and rear control arm 22 to substantially rotate and/or translate relative to each other and thus impart vertical pitch movement to saddle 12. This rotational and translational ability allows the shooter to move and adjust the elevation or vertical pitch of the firearm barrel supported in the saddle 12 during target acquisition and alignment. Brake 20 acts to lock and restrict elevational movement of the saddle 12 in the vertical direction when the brake handle is rotated to a locked position which substantially inhibits any relative rotation in the vertical direction as between the hinge block 18, brake 20 and rear control arm 22 thus securing the firearm positioned in the saddle 12 at the desired elevation on sight on the target. It is also contemplated that connection means such as pins, bolts or other threaded or non-threaded connectors for rotatably securing the components of the shooting platform 10 may be utilized as known in the art.

A swivel mechanism (not shown) or connection point may be fixed to the bottom surface of hinge block 18 allowing the shooting platform 10 to freely swivel in substantially the horizontal plane enabling the shooter to quickly place a firearm supported in the shooting platform on target in the horizontal direction. The shooting platform 10 may be mounted to a monopod, bipod, tripod, extension arm or multiple extension arms or fixed mounting assembly as will be further described herein in FIG. 5.

FIG. 3 depicts a perspective elevational view of hinge block 18, brake 20, and rear control arm 22 assembly. As depicted, brake 20 is hingedly connected between hinge block 18 and rear control arm 22. Brake 20 includes a rotatable brake handle 30, a brake piston 32 secured partially within the interior of brake handle 30 with a link 34 attached or formed as part of brake piston 32 at one end of brake piston 32, and a friction plate 36 attached to or formed as part of link 34 at the opposite end of brake piston 32. Link 34 provides a hinged connection point to hinge block 18 via pin 26. Link 34 and/or friction plate 36 provides a hinged connection point with rear control arm 22 via pin 26.

Rear control arm 22 and friction plate 36 are in releasable contact at hinge brake contact surface 35. Rear control arm 22 and friction plate 36 may include grooves, cleats or other roughened surface treatments enabling the contact surfaces at hinge brake contact surface 35 to securely mate together to substantially inhibit or restrict rotation relative to rear control arm 22 and friction plate 36 when the brake 20 is in a locked position. In turn and in this position, relative rotation between the brake 20 and hinge block 18 is restricted resulting in hinge block 18, brake 20, and rear control arm 22 assembly being restricted from elevational pitch rotation and/or translation in the vertical direction. Depending on the status of the brake 20 being in the locked or unlocked position, rear control arm 22 and friction plate 36 may rotate or be substantially fixed in position relative to each other as further described below.

Brake 20 acts to provide an adjustable locking mechanism whereby the shooter may easily make gross or fine elevational adjustments to the shooting platform 10 in the vertical direction by simply rotating and/or counter-rotating brake handle 30 about brake piston 32. Both brake handle 30 and brake piston 32 are partially or completely threaded 38 on one or both ends so that as brake handle 30 is rotated by the shooter about brake piston the rotation of the mated or meshed threads 38 causes brake piston 32 to rise, elongate or otherwise translate in an axial direction out and away from brake handle 30. In the depicted embodiment, a substantial interior portion of brake handle 30 is threaded and a substantial exterior portion of brake piston 32 is threaded to accept the threaded portion of brake handle 30.

In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 4A and 4B, brake handle 30 and links 34 may be partially or completely threaded across their external and/or internal axial lengths as desired or substantially threaded on both corresponding ends as shown. By threading both ends of brake handle 30 and links 34, the brake handle 30 may be rotated so as to produce substantially simultaneous extension or refraction of each link 34 from or into brake handle 30 resulting in a doubling of the rate of expulsion or refraction of links 34 from brake handle 30 and the corresponding rate of control arm locking or unlocking and, in turn, requiring less rotation of brake handle 30 by the shooter for locking or unlocking the hinge block 18, brake 20, and rear control arm assembly.

In the depicted embodiment, portions of the distal ends of brake handle 30 and links 34 include counter-meshing threads 38. Links 34 are connected to, or may be preformed, as part of friction plates 36 a as shown. As brake handle 30 is rotated to inhibit change in the vertical pitch of the shooting platform, links 34 are drawn into the interior of brake handle 30 and encounter the opposite distal ends of brake handle 30. This results in a friction connection between brake handle 30 and friction plates 36 inhibiting further rotational movement of brake handle 30 about links 34 and locking the shooting platform into the desired alignment on the desired target. If minute adjustments need to be made in the alignment of the shooting platform 60, the shooter may make fine adjustments in alignment of the shooting platform by rotating or counter-rotating brake handle 30 in small increments and reorienting the alignment of the shooting platform by the shooter pushing, pulling or by other bodily movement imparted to the shooting platform or the weapon secured in the shooting platform until the desired alignment is achieved. In one embodiment, rubber washers, grommets or cushioned pads, grommets or washers may be positioned inside the peripheral circumference of friction plates 36 a so as to provide a variable friction surface that provides variable resistive frictional force sufficient to retard movement of brake handle 30 unless the shooter imparts sufficient rotational or counter-rotational force to overcome the resistive frictional force existing between brake handle 30 and friction plates 36 a.

FIG. 5 depicts an embodiment of the shooting platform 10 mounted to an extension arm assembly that may be fixed to any stable structural component such as a wall, column, post or pole. As depicted, a firearm 2 is placed and rests in the saddle portion of shooting platform 10. Shooting platform 10 is detachably secured to a swivel unit 40 that is connected to extension arm 52. Extension arms 50, 52 are connected via arm swivel 54 with the distal end of extension arm 50 connected to swivel mount 56. Swivel mount 56 may be permanently or detachably secured to a stable structure such as a wall in a dwelling, inside of a hunting blind, or in any space from which a firearm is to be utilized.

In one example embodiment, swivel mount 56 is secured to a wall in a hunting blind (not shown). Once secured to a stable structural unit, the shooter may place firearm 2 into the saddle of the shooting platform 10 then position and sight the firearm 2 into the desired field of fire in the horizontal plane. The shooter may then push the shooting platform 10 supporting firearm 2 into a secure and safe position until the shooter is ready to fire the firearm 2. When the shooter desires to fire the firearm 2, he or she simply moves the shooting platform 10 into position and only needs to make vertical pitch adjustments for sighting the weapon on to the intended target. Such vertical pitch adjustments are easily made by rotating or counter-rotating the brake handle (as previously described herein) thereby allowing the shooter to position and sight the firearm 2 on to the target in a quick and accurate fashion. The shooter may simply discharge the firearm without having the accuracy of the shot affected by the shooter's reflexive or reactionary motion, as the recoil of the discharge is substantially absorbed by the shooting platform 10. The user may then either sight and prepare for another shot or stow the firearm suspended by the extension arm assembly for later use.

FIG. 6A discloses an embodiment of shooting platform 60 wherein a twisting brake clamp mechanism is utilized to lock or adjust the vertical orientation of the saddle as the brake handle is rotated and counter-rotated. In the depicted embodiment, saddle 62 is a one-piece fabricated rigid body with a rear support 64 and front support 66 attached at opposing rear support base 62 a and front support base 62 b of saddle 62 as shown. Saddle 62 is manufactured from a rigid material such as metal, wood, polymer or other known natural or composite materials. Rear support 64 and front support 66 are secured to saddle 62 at rear support base 62 a and front support base 62 b as shown with commonly known fasteners 66 a, 64 a (shown in FIG. 6B) such as bolts, pins, rivets or other known materials in the art. Saddle 62 is secured to clamp brake 74 with bolts 70 or other connectors as known in the art. Brake handle 72 is connected to clamp brake 74 via thread connectors as known in the art. Dowel rod 78 is shown secured or otherwise fixed to support mount 68 as described in detail in below.

Turning to FIG. 6B, shooting platform 60 is shown from a lower perspective where clamp brake 74 is shown in rotatable mechanical connection by dowel rod 78 to support mount 68. Clamp brake 74 is generally square or rectangular in shape with a section of material (shown at 74 a) removed from one side of the clamp brake (creating opposing sides of a portion of brake clamp 74) as shown so that actuation of the brake handle 72, which is threaded into the clamp brake in a threaded orifice 74 b allows the clamp brake to increase or decrease the force clamp brake 72 exerted on dowel rod 78 in effect drawing the opposing sides closer or further apart about dowel rod 78 as brake handle 72 is rotated or counter-rotated. Clamp brake 74 includes an orifice (not shown) through which dowel rod 78 passes through clamp brake 74 and into support mount 68 where it is secured by a circumferential flange or enlarged circumferential head on one end of dowel rod 78 (not shown). Dowel rod 78 is restricted from rotation about the longitudinal axis of dowel as dowel rod 78 is fixed in support mount 68. Dowel rod 78 is secured to the exterior side surface of clamp brake 74 by threaded connection between dowel rod 78 and into which screw 80 is inserted and supported by cap 76 resting against clamp brake 74. Support mount 68 with attach points 68 a is provided to allow the operator to easily attach or detach the shooting platform from a swivel mount or extension arm assembly as described herein. Alternatively, support mount 68 may be attached to a structure, vehicle or other fixed or movable support as desired by the user.

As depicted, the user rotates brake handle 72 to unlock the compressive force imparted by clamp brake 74 about the dowel rod 78 which allows the user to adjust the pitch elevation of the cradle 62. Once the user orients the cradle 62 at the desired pitch angle, the user counter-rotates brake handle 72 resulting in the placement of sufficient compressive force imparted by clamp brake 74 on dowel rod 78. The user may adjust the compressive force placed on dowel rod 78 by gradual rotation or counter-rotation of brake handle 72 sufficient to completely immobilize, allow partial movement or allow free movement of the cradle 62 in the vertical direction as desired by the user. The stabilization platform is easily deconstructed into its various compenents for storage and transport and can easily be reassembled for use in the field.

Illustrative embodiments have been described herein and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above apparatus and methods may incorporate changes and modifications without departing from the general scope of the disclosed invention. It is intended to include all such changes and modifications within the scope of the present invention. 

We claim:
 1. An apparatus, comprising: a saddle with at least two support legs connected with a front support base and a rear support base; a front gun support and a rear gun support attached to the front support base and rear support base of the saddle for supporting a firearm; a hinge block hingedly connected to the saddle and about which the saddle may pitch in the vertical direction; a rear control arm connected to the bottom surface of the rear support base; and, a brake hingedly connected to the hinge block and rear control arm.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: an adjustment control operable to increase or decrease the width of the front gun support.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a swivel attached to the bottom surface of the hinge block.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: an extension arm connected to the bottom surface of the hinge block.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the brake further comprises: a rotatable brake handle with a brake piston secured partially within the brake handle; a link attached or formed as part of the brake piston; and, a friction plate attached to or formed as part of the link.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising: a brake pin substantially enclosed in a friction plate wherein the brake pin is in contact with an inclined surface of the link.
 7. An apparatus, comprising: a saddle with a front support base and a rear support base positioned at opposing ends of the saddle; a front gun support and a rear gun support connected to front support base and rear support base of the saddle for supporting a firearm; a clamp brake attached to the saddle wherein the clamp brake includes a rotatable brake handle for adjusting the clamping force of the clamp brake applied to a dowel rod extending through an orifice in the clamp brake and attached to a support mount and which acts to link and provide a rotational axis about which the pitch elevation of the cradle may be fixed or adjusted by rotating or counter-rotating the brake handle.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising: a swivel attached to the support mount.
 9. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising: an extension arm attached to the support mount.
 10. A method, comprising: resting a firearm in a shooting platform with a saddle, a front gun support and a rear gun support and a brake handle; orienting the shooting platform with the firearm resting in the saddle in alignment on a target; rotating the brake handle so as to lock the shooting platform in the desired orientation.
 11. The method of claim 7 further comprising: unlocking the shooting platform by counter-rotating the brake handle of the brake.
 12. The method of claim 7, further comprising: attaching an extension arm to the shooting platform.
 13. The method of claim 7, further comprising: attaching a swivel mount to the shooting platform.
 14. The method of claim 7, further comprising: attaching the shooting platform to a fixed structure.
 15. The method of claim 7, further comprising: attaching the shooting platform to a vehicle. 